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Yuba County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Primary structure height
35 ft (RE) up to 50 ft (RH)
Accessory structure height
capped at 15-20 ft
RH near RS
stepped to 30 ft within 40 ft
RH near RS
stepped to 40 ft within 50 ft
Minor projections
+8 ft for chimneys, antennas, parapets
Ag/industrial structures
up to 75 ft with waiver/variance
Violation
misdemeanor or infraction, § 11.67.050

Summary

Unincorporated Yuba County caps residential building height by zone under Table 11.07.030: primary structures max out at 30 feet in Single Family (RS) and 50 feet in High Density (RH), while accessory structures are capped at 15-20 feet. Where an RH lot sits next to RS, § 11.07.030(3) steps the height down to 30-40 feet near the boundary.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Yuba County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Maximum height (ft.) Primary structure 35 30 35 50(C) 11.19.050 Height Exceptions 11.19.030, Accessory Structures Accessory structure 20 15 15 15

(3)Transitional standards. When an RH District is adjacent to an RS District, the following standards apply:a.The maximum height is 30 feet within 40 feet of an RS District; andb.The maximum height is 40 feet within 50 feet of an RS District.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).

Full Breakdown

030, Development Regulations - Residential Districts, sets the maximum building height for each residential zone in unincorporated Yuba County. The primary-structure limit is 35 feet in Residential Estate (RE), 30 feet in Single Family (RS), 35 feet in Medium Density (RM), and 50 feet in High Density (RH); accessory structures are capped lower, at 20 feet in RE and 15 feet in RS, RM, and RH. Additional Regulation (3) to the same section imposes a transitional height step where an RH district abuts an RS district: the maximum height is 30 feet within 40 feet of the RS district line, and 40 feet within 50 feet of the RS line, so a high-density building cannot rise to its full 50-foot allowance right against a single-family neighborhood.

050, Height Exceptions, lets specific features exceed the district maximum without a separate permit: chimneys up to 6 feet wide, cupolas, flagpoles, monuments, steeples, fire and parapet walls, roof equipment, antennas, and similar appurtenances covering no more than 20 percent of the top-floor roof area may exceed the height standard by 8 feet, and larger exceptions can be granted through a waiver or variance. Support structures tied to a permitted agricultural or industrial use, such as silos, water tanks, smokestacks, or mechanical equipment, may rise up to 75 feet with a waiver or variance.

All structures remain subject to any Airport Overlay District limit or FAA height restriction regardless of the district table. 59, which requires Planning Commission findings that the lot's special circumstances, not owner preference, justify the increase.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the district height limit without an approved exception is a Code violation. Under § 11.67.040 it is a declared public nuisance subject to abatement, and § 11.67.050 makes the violation a misdemeanor, though the Enforcement Official may cite it as an infraction instead. Remedies under § 11.67.060 include a stop-work order, fines up to double the standard permit fee, and a recorded notice of non-compliance against the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the tallest house I can build in an RS zone?
The primary structure limit in Single Family (RS) districts is 30 feet under Table 11.07.030, five feet lower than the 35-foot limit in Residential Estate and Medium Density districts. Accessory structures in RS are capped even lower, at 15 feet.
How tall can a high-density apartment building get?
Up to 50 feet in a High Density (RH) district under Table 11.07.030, but if the RH lot is adjacent to an RS district the height steps down: only 30 feet within 40 feet of the RS line and 40 feet within 50 feet of it, per § 11.07.030(3).
Can my chimney or antenna stick up past the height limit?
Yes. Section 11.19.050 lets chimneys, cupolas, flagpoles, antennas, and similar rooftop features that cover no more than 20 percent of the roof exceed the district height standard by 8 feet without a separate permit; taller exceptions need a waiver or variance.
Do agricultural buildings get extra height?
Yes. Silos, water tanks, and similar support structures tied to a permitted agricultural use, along with smokestacks and mechanical equipment on industrially zoned land, may exceed the standard height limit up to 75 feet with an approved waiver or variance under § 11.19.050.
What if my building is near the airport?
Section 11.19.050(5) makes every height exception subordinate to Airport Overlay District limits and FAA height restrictions, so a structure near the airport must comply with those caps regardless of what the zoning table or projection allowance would otherwise permit.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Yuba County

All Yuba County rules

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